Fire Starting System

ABSTRACT

This invention teaches an ignition pad comprising metallic strands or fibers that may be woven with other non-metallic fibers or organic materials that can provide combustible fuel. The ignition pad may comprise strands of a metallic fiber such as steel wool along with other non-metallic fibers or organic materials that combust and burn. 
     Ideally, fine steel works better than coarse steel wool as the fine metallic fibers can cross circuit as well as provide greater resistance when an electrical current is applied. A cooking grill or fire pit comprising an electrical ignition system may provide electric current to the ignition pads so that when current is applied, the metallic fibers in the ignition pads combust catching the organic materials within the ignition pads to burn, thus providing (1) heat for cooking or (2) flame for enjoyment if used as a fire pit.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY.

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/937,462 filed on Feb. 7, 2014 titled “Fire Starting Ignition Pad” which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention provides a fire starting ignition system for starting a fire. Specifically, this invention relates to an ignition pad that can be coupled with a barbecue grill or fire pit ignition system such that when electrical current from the ignition system is passed through the pad, the pad catches fire and initiates the burning of wood chips, charcoal, coal or some other combustible material that when burned generates heat.

2. Related Art

Numerous prior art references exists that show how to start a fire with a battery. During the production of steel wool, a slicing tool shaves fine threads of metal, which produces a tremendous amount of heat. To reduce the chance of fire and lessen friction, the slicing tool is kept cool with oil. However, the use of the oil coolant means that the steel wool itself contains some oil which makes it highly flammable and likely to spontaneously combust as is the carbon in the steel itself.

When a battery is applied to steel wool, the electrical current passing through the steel wool completes the circuit on very fine wires that over heat and cause the oil used in the steel wool's manufacturing process to combust. However, the use of a battery to combust steel wool works best with very fine grades of steel wool. Coarser grades of steel wool have been shown in the prior art to not combust. For example, when grade 3 steel wool is used, a few individual steel shards may combust, but the overall bundle typically does not combust.

A need exists to have a fire ignition pad that contains flammable products such as wood chips, sawdust, coal dust, powdered charcoal or other combustible materials embedded in the metallic wool fibers.

SUMMARY

This invention teaches an ignition pad comprising metallic strands or fibers that may be woven with other non-metallic fibers or organic materials that can provide combustible fuel. The ignition pad may comprise strands of a metallic fiber such as steel wool along with other non-metallic fibers or organic materials that combust and burn. Ideally, fine steel works better than coarse steel wool as the fine metallic fibers can cross circuit as well as provide greater resistance when an electrical current is applied. Coupled with residual oil that may be present in the metallic fibers as a by-product of the metallic fiber manufacturing process, the carbon in the metallic fibers will combust when an electric current is applied to the metallic fibers thus providing a flame that will start the burning of the combustible organic material embedded within the metallic fibers.

This invention also teaches a cooking grill or fire pit comprising an electrical ignition system that provides the electric current to the ignition pads so that when current is applied, the metallic fibers in the ignition pads combust catching the organic materials within the ignition pads to burn, thus providing the heat for cooking or the flame for enjoyment if used in a fire pit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis being placed instead upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ignition pad illustrating other non-metallic fibers with the metallic fibers of the ignition pad.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ignition pad illustrating other non-metallic fibers folded or rolled in with the metallic fibers to form the ignition pad.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a barbecue grill with an insertable, rechargeable battery into a holder located on the bottom of the barbecue grill.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This invention teaches an ignition pad comprising metallic strands or fibers that may be woven with other non-metallic fibers or organic materials that can provide combustible fuel. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ignition pad combining strands a metallic fiber such as steel wool 100 along with other non-metallic fibers and/or organic combustible material 102. Ideally, fine carbon steel fibers 100 work better than coarse steel wool fibers as the fine metallic fibers can cross circuit as well as provide greater resistance when an electrical current is applied. Coupled with residual oil that may be present in the metallic fibers 100 as a by-product of the metallic fiber manufacturing process, carbon based metallic fibers 100 provide an ignition source of combustible material that may be used to ignite the embedded non-metallic fibers 102 and/or other combustible organic materials 104.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of such an ignition pad 200. The ignition pad 200 may be designed so that there are air spaces 202 separating the metallic strands 204. Ignition of the pad tends to work best when weighted material such as non-embedded non-metallic combustible material such as charcoal, wood, wood chips, coal, etc. are placed on top of the ignition pad.

In another embodiment, mixing the metallic material 204 and the embedded non-metallic material 206 provides layers to form a barrier against over weighting the metallic material wool strands against each other once other solid fuels are stacked against them. The buffer between the metallic wool strands 204 provided by the embedded non-metallic fibers 206 allows the metallic wool strands 204 to burst into flames once activated via a low voltage current even though the metallic strands are under enough weighted pressure to otherwise fail to ignite through a low voltage that creates short circuits through the contact of the various metallic strands 204.

FIG. 2 illustrates an ignition pad 200 that is created from multiple layers of both fine metallic wool strands of carbon steel 204 and other embedded, non-metallic combustible fibers 204 such as wood chips, saw dust, coal dust, powdered charcoal, charcoal, coal or any other combustible organic material. The amount of fine metallic wool strands 204 in a ratio to the amount of embedded non-metallic fibers 206 varies based on the amount of weight placed on top of the ignition pad 200 by non-embedded, non-metallic combustible material. Ideally, the non-embedded non-metallic combustible material should not crush or compact the ignition pad 200. The metallic steel fibers 204 may also comprise certain alloys that have flammable tendencies such as alloys of magnesium.

Once the fire comprises hot coals for cooking, additional pads may be added that contain specific varieties of wood chips that are well known for providing a pleasant aroma for smoking food such as mesquite, hickory, cedar, fruit woods, etc. These pads may be incorporated into pads where the wood chips are held together by metallic fibers. In addition, for creative smoking favors, combustible materials such as citrus, dried citrus peels, pistachio wood, corn cobs, nut shells, coconut shells, mango, mahogany and other combustible materials may be used along with metal fibers such as stainless steel fibers that are harder to combust so that the smoke flavor pads may be used to hold the integrity of the pad together during longer term heatings so that the smoke flavor is released.

The use of such ignition pads and smoking pads may be used in a variety of appliances such as barbecue grills, furnaces, heaters, cooking apparatuses, stoves, etc. FIG. 3 is a side view of an example appliance. In this instance, a barbecue grill 300 is illustrated having a grilling surface for cooking food (not shown) located above the barbecue fuel such as charcoal briquettes 302. A structure 306 providing support to the non-embedded, non-metallic combustible material 302 overlaying the ignition pad 304 allows the ignition pad 304 to be placed in a position lower than the non-embedded non-metallic combustible material so that when ignited the flames from the ignition pad 304 ignites the non-embedded, non-metallic combustible material 302, e.g., charcoal, wood, wood chips, coal, etc. If the non-embedded, non-metallic combustible material 302 is positioned to compress the ignition pad 304 too much then combustion of the ignition pad may be inhibited.

An ignition pad 304 may be located below the charcoal briquettes on an ignition pad structural support 306. A fan 308 may be positioned to increase or decrease the flow of air (e.g. oxygen) to the bottom of the charcoal briquettes or the non-embedded combustible material 302. A rechargeable and detachable battery 310, similar to one used in cordless drills, may be connected to the fan motor 312. Another electrical connection 314 can connect the ignition pad structural support 306 with the battery 310. A switch (not shown) can be located such that in a first position, the fan motor 312 is engaged such that the fan 308 rotates increasing the air supply to the bottom of the charcoal 302. In a second position, the fan motor 312 is engaged as well as electrical current is applied to the ignition pad structural support 306 so that the ignition pad metal fibers are electrified causing the carbon steel fibers to ignite. In an alternative embodiment, the electric current from the battery 310 is applied via a wired connection directly to the ignition pad 304.

Once the charcoals 302 have formed hot coals, smoking pads containing wood chips designed for creating smoke for flavoring the food may be added to the barbecue grill 300.

When cooking on the barbecue grill 300 is completed, the rechargeable and detachable battery 310 may be removed and placed on a battery recharger (not shown). In one embodiment, the rechargeable and detachable battery 310 may be inserted and removed in a housing that also supports the fan motor 312. In another embodiment, the battery is located separate from the fan motor 312.

While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scope of this invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An ignition pad, comprising: a plurality of metallic fibers; and a plurality of non-metallic combustible material embedded in the plurality of metallic fibers.
 2. The ignition pad of claim 1 where the metallic fibers further comprise fine carbon steel wool.
 3. The ignition pad of claim 1 where the metallic fibers further comprise coarse carbon steel wool.
 4. The ignition pad of claim 1 where the metallic fibers comprise a magnesium alloy.
 5. The ignition pad of claim 1 where the non-metallic fibers comprise charcoal.
 6. The ignition pad of claim 1 where the non-metallic fibers comprise saw dust.
 7. The ignition pad of claim 1 where the non-metallic fibers comprise combustible organic materials.
 8. The ignition pad of claim 1 where the non-metallic fibers comprise wood chips.
 9. The ignition pad of claim 8 where the wood chips that further comprise wood that is used for smoking foods.
 10. An ignition pad energizing system, comprising: a fire containment structure; a platform within the fire containment structure for supporting at least one ignition pads and combustion material; and an electrical sub-system for energizing the ignition pad.
 11. The ignition pad energizing system of claim 10 where the electrical sub-system comprises a battery.
 12. The ignition pad energizing system of claim 10 further comprising a fan, electrically coupled to the electrical subsystem, for increasing and decreasing the amount of air applied to the bottom of the combustion material. 